EP0802759B2 - Cooking receptacle with a gripping handle and means for retaining a utensil - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container kitchen with a handle and means for retaining a kitchen utensil such as a fork, spoon or spatula.

When you cook food by making it heat in a container such as a pan or stove, it is common to have to grasp a utensil such than a spoon or fork to collect, mix or turn food over. When this operation is carried out, the utensil is placed on a close support a kitchen container, such as a table, a worktop, a plate, the container lid, etc.

This habit of proceeding has the consequence that the support is quickly soiled by the fragments food or liquids left on the cookware. Generally, these are even several of these supports which are soiled, the utensil being deposited on one, sometimes on another.

People get into the habit of posing the utensil balanced on the rim of the container. from when this balance is unstable, the utensil comes to fall on the hob or stove and the dirty. Furthermore, when this utensil is metallic, it quickly stores the heat accumulated by the container and becomes delicate to grasp, at the risk of burning yourself.

We have proposed equipment to retain a kitchen utensil on a container with a handle gripping.

So, for example, we describe in the document US-A-5 105 963 a kitchen container such as a pan, the handle of which is provided with equipment for holding a utensil such as a spoon in place. In a variant, these are strips fixed respectively on the handles of the pan and spoon and which have gripping elements in the form of better known loops and hooks under the brand VELCRO. In other embodiments, the equipment consists of a clamp, a magnetic part, etc.

Other types of equipment have been proposed. These are for example small legs forming protrusions above the concave upper face of a pan handle, between which the pan handle the utensil is trapped so as to keep it hanging parallel to the handle of the pan (US-A-1 554 887).

It can also be a shaped projection tongs for hanging a utensil in a direction perpendicular to that of the handle of container (GB-A-540 308), or other small parts coming to be fixed on the edge of the pan or on the handle (FR-A-2 508 302; US-A-2 483 724; US-A-2 900 151).

All of these systems have the disadvantage to present attachments to the container and / or a utensil, and / or parts projecting from the container.

The use of attachments is increasing the cost of purchasing kitchen equipment, especially if necessary equip all containers. In addition, it involves having to clean them regularly, which is tedious.

As for the protruding parts, their main inconvenience of being the cause of injuries and the like incidents. A typical example of such an incident is that that the user inadvertently hangs in these protruding parts, which unbalances the container and knocks it over.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages.

More specifically, it aims to offer a kitchen container with a handle and means for retaining a utensil which is simple in design and without any elements insert or protruding part for retaining the utensil.

It also aims to achieve this goal without questioning or complicating the technique of routine manufacture of container handles.

Another objective is to provide such a container without significantly increasing its cost price.

These and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the present invention.

According to the invention, the retaining means on the upper side of the handle of a container are as defined in the claims.

So the reception, the detention and the immobilization of the utensil are made without using additional elements, notably salient.

• la forme et les dimensions dudit canal sont adaptées pour recevoir seulement le manche de l'ustensile;
• ledit canal débouche du côté du manche tourné vers le récipient et en ce que sa génératrice la plus basse s'étend au-dessus du rebord supérieur du contenant du récipient;
• ledit canal est formé d'au moins deux tronçons distincts et alignés l'un par rapport à l'autre, l'espace entre ces deux tronçons n'assurant en aucune manière le support du manche de l'ustensile;
• ledits logements sont conformé pour recevoir intégralement ou quasi intégralement ledit ustensile;
• ledits logements consistent en un canal de réception du manche de l'ustensile, qui communique avec une cuvette de réception du reste dudit ustensile;
• une desdites séries est conformée pour recevoir le manche d'une cuillère, tandis que la seconde série est conformée pour recevoir une fourchette;
• le manche est droit ou légèrement recourbé ;
• le manche comporte une partie courbe de raccordement au contenant du récipient.

Furthermore, according to other advantageous but non-limiting characteristics:

• the shape and dimensions of said channel are adapted to receive only the handle of the utensil;
• said channel opens out from the side of the handle facing the container and in that its lowest generatrix extends above the upper rim of the container of the container;
• said channel is formed of at least two distinct sections and aligned with respect to each other, the space between these two sections in no way providing support for the handle of the utensil;
• said housings are shaped to receive said utensil completely or almost entirely;
• said housings consist of a channel for receiving the handle of the utensil, which communicates with a bowl for receiving the rest of said utensil;
• one of said series is shaped to receive the handle of a spoon, while the second series is shaped to receive a fork;
• the handle is straight or slightly curved;
• the handle has a curved part for connection to the container of the container.

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle de côté d'une casserole conforme à la présente invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle de dessus de la casserole de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 est une vue partielle de côté d'une seconde forme de réalisation de la casserole de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle de dessus de la casserole de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de côté d'une autre forme de réalisation de la casserole, avec une cuillère en bois en place sur le manche ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de face du manche de la casserole de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de dessus de la casserole de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue de côté d'une poêle comportant deux séries de moyens de retenue pour des ustensiles différents ;
• la figure 9 est une vue de dessus de la poêle de la figure 8.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. This description will be made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial side view of a pan according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial top view of the pan of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a partial side view of a second embodiment of the pan of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a partial top view of the pan of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the pan, with a wooden spoon in place on the handle;
• Figure 6 is a front view of the handle of the pan of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a top view of the pan of Figure 5;
• Figure 8 is a side view of a pan having two sets of retaining means for different utensils;
• Figure 9 is a top view of the pan of Figure 8.

Throughout this description and of claims, we will understand by the expression "kitchen utensil" any object with a handle and a so-called "active" part, allowing mixing or taking food in a container. For example, a spoon, a fork or even a spatula.

The pan 1 partially shown in the Figure 1 includes, as is well known, a container 2 of cylindrical shape open at its upper part. It is for example made of metal or glass. In this case, it is a metal container.

This pan usually comprises, a grip handle 4 which is fixed to the periphery of container 2 thanks to a U-shaped part not shown and covered with a metal protection ring 3, of a well known type.

The handle 4 is for example made of bakelite or any other plastic resistant to heat. In other embodiments, this handle can be made of wood, glass when the container is also in green, or in metal. In such a case, a piece is inserted between the container and the handle intermediate suitable for not conveying the heat of one to the other.

It is a generally straight handle, that is to say straight, but however slightly inclined by compared to the horizontal.

It has for example a generally rectangular section or oval.

The means of retention of a utensil on this consistent kitchen container, in this case, in two housings formed in the upper face 40 of the handle 4, and shaped so as to ensure reception and retention on their own and immobilization of a kitchen utensil.

More specifically, these dwellings consist on the one hand in a longitudinal channel 50 and in a bowl 51 which communicates with the channel. The latter extends substantially from the free edge of the handle 40 to about two-thirds of the length of the handle.

It is a semi-cylindrical groove which is slightly inclined relative to the axis of the handle so that its end located on the end side the handle is slightly raised. In in other words, the throat decreases in depth as soon as we get closer to the free end of the handle.

Of course, the channel can have a section of another form, chosen according to the form of the utensil to bear.

This channel opens, on the side of container 2, on a bowl-shaped hollow 51 which opens out from on either side of the handle.

As shown more particularly by Figure 2, these housings provide them only positioning, restraint and immobilization a spoon, for example a wooden spoon. We easily understands that the handle of this spoon is positioned in channel 50 while its active part is partially positioned in the bowl 51. On this figure is represented by broken lines C the position that the side edges of a such a spoon.

So without having to resort to additional elements particularly salient on the handle, we can particularly stable positioning of said spoon.

Note that it is possible to enter the handle even when the spoon is in place in the housing. This can be done without getting dirty hand since the handle of the pan is held in its part provided with channel 50, which receives the spoon handle. However, in principle, this handle is not not contaminated with food.

Unlike the handle of Figures 1 and 2 which has substantially parallel side walls, that of FIGS. 3 and 4 has a bulged part laterally allowing to provide a bowl 51 'of shape corresponding to that of the active part, i.e. hollow, a spoon. In this embodiment, we understand that the entire surface of the spoon is carried by the handle. In a way, the sleeve 4 has on its upper face 40 the imprint of the spoon.

In the two embodiments described, we note that none of said dwellings have of arrangements projecting above the plane superior general of the handle. entanglement or injuries are eliminated.

In addition, these housings can be made simply by a traditional molding technique, already used for making sleeves, so that this does not call into question the cost price.

When the handle of the pan is wooden, glass or metal, you can also train the accommodation using suitable techniques and already used for traditional manufacturing sleeves.

In the variants described below, the container 2 or 2 'of the containers has been shown in lines mixed in the figures, for the purpose of simplification.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7, the pan 1 has, fixed to the container 2, a handle 4 with a connection part 41 to the container 2 of generally curved shape. It continues with a straight part 42, generally inclined relative to horizontal and provided with a 420 through opening the thickness of the handle, for its attachment to a support.

As in the embodiments already described, the handle 4 is fixed to the container 2 by means a welded U-shaped piece covered with a ring metallic 3. This part receives, in a shaped hole adapted 411, a fixing screw not shown. We note that at this level, the underside of the handle 4 comprises a cutout 410 for access to the screw hole.

In the upper face 40 of the handle, and precisely at its right part 42, is formed a channel 50 which is adapted to receive the handle of a spoon. In the case shown here, this spoon 6 is wooden and has a cylindrical handle 60 and a active part 61. The channel 50, of semi-cylindrical shape opens at its end facing the container 2, just above the rim 20 of the container 2. In other words, the lowest generator G of this channel 50 extends slightly above the rim top 20 of the container. There is therefore a slight space E between said generator and the rim of the container. In this way, the channel is adapted to receive and hold the spoon in place, by its handle 60, without have to rest on the rim 20 of the container.

In an additional embodiment not shown, channel 50 extends only over the intermediate part of handle 4, which means that the zones which are in the extension of this channel do not contribute to the support of the utensil handle.

In Figures 8 and 9 is shown from the side and from opposite a frying pan whose container 2 'is also connected to a handle 4 for gripping by an intermediate piece covered with a ring 3. As previously, this handle has a connection part curve 41 and a straight part 42 provided opening 420.

According to a particularly characteristic advantageous of the invention, the handle comprises two distinct series of housings, intended each to selectively receive a different utensil. So, in this case, the handle has two channel sections in the shape of a semi-cylindrical groove 50A and 50B which are distributed for one 50A, substantially in the middle part of the handle, and for the other 50B at its free end.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7, the lowest generatrix G of these sections extends above the upper edge of the container, thus leaving a free space E.

Such channels allow, as in the case Figures 5 to 7, to set up and retain a spoon, by its cylindrical handle, without coming in support on the rim of the container. Of course, if the spoon handle had a different shape section, the shape of the channel sections 50A and 50B would be adapted accordingly.

The housings 51A and 51B have, for their part, respectively a generally complementary form of the active part and part of the handle of a fork 7, shown in bold dashed lines at the Figure 8. The curved region 72 of the range, which extends between the active part 70 and the handle 71, overhangs the channel section 50A.

In this way, when a handle spoon cylindrical is necessary for mixing food contained in the pan, it can be rested on the round 4 by resting on sections 50A and 50B. On the other hand, when a range is more suitable for the removal of said food, it may be positioned on the handle at the housing 51A and 51B.

Of course, the shape, the dimensions and the housing position can be adapted according to utensils they are intended to receive.

Again, handle 4 has no insert or protruding part, especially above of its superior general plan, so that the risks of snagging or other incidents are reduced.

Finally, the handle of compliant kitchen containers to the invention are particularly easy to clean because they do not have an angular part.

Claims (5)

1. A kitchen container (1) provided with a prehension handle (4) having a housing carved thereon, and with means (5) for retaining a cooking utensil (6) such as a spoon or a fork, said housing consisting of at least a channel (50) extending over at least a part of the container handle length (4), so shaped as to ensure alone the take, the holding and securing of the utensil (6), characterized in that said means consist of two series of at least two separate parts of the channel (50A, 50B) and at least two separate housings (51A, 51B), each adapted to selectively receive a different utensil.
2. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two separate parts (50A, 50B) are lined up and the space between them two does not in any way hold the handle (60) of the utensil (6).
3. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that said housings are so shaped as to receive in full or almost said utensil (6).
4. A container according to claim 3, characterized in that said housings are composed of a channel receiving the handle of the utensil (60) which communicates with a bowl (51,51') receiving the remaining part of said utensil (6).
5. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that one of said series (50A,51B) is shaped to receive the handle (60) of a spoon (6) whereas the second series (51A,51B) is shaped to receive a fork (7).

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